Apparatus for reconfiguring automatic rifle to include grenade launching function

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for reconfiguring an automatic rifle (10) for quick attachment and detachment of a grenade launcher (32). The apparatus invention comprises an upper rack (42) securable to the barrel (16) of the rifle (10), and a lower rack (34) to which the grenade launcher (32) can be secured. The upper and lower racks (42, 34) carry quick connect/disconnect fittings (66, 68, 78, 80) for mating and unmating of the launcher (32) with regard to the rifle (10).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for configuring and deconfiguring an automatic rifle with a grenade launching device to be mounted to the barrel of the rifle, comprising: (a) a unitary upper rack including a base portion and at least two quick connect/disconnect fittings depending from said base portion and being spaced from each other at fixed, defined distances along said base portion;   (b) means for securing said upper rack to the barrel of the rifle at a desired location therealong;   (c) a lower rack having means for suspending the grenade launching device therefrom;   (d) quick connect/disconnect fittings carried by said lower rack for selectively mating and unmating said upper and lower racks with respect to one another, said fittings carried by said lower rack being fixedly spaced from each other at a distance the same as that at which said fittings carried by said upper rack are spaced; and   (e) a hand guard attachable to the rifle to enclose said upper rack and a portion of the barrel of the rifle to which said upper rack is secured, said guard having apertures formed therein to permit said quick connect/disconnect fittings carried by said lower rack to pass through said apertures to mate precisely with said quick connect/disconnect fittings carried by said upper rack.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guard has two apertures, spaced from one another axially along an axis of elongation of the rifle barrel, formed therein, and wherein said upper and lower rack quick connect/disconnect fittings comprise: (a) forward and rearward upper rack fittings spaced at axial locations so that each can be disposed proximate a different one of said apertures formed in said guard; and   (b) forward and rearward lower rack fittings spaced at axial locations at a distance from one another the same as the distance at which said fittings carried by said upper rack are spaced.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lower rack quick connect/disconnect fittings comprise forward and rearward T-shaped fittings, said fittings having laterally extending arms, and wherein said upper rack quick connect/disconnect fittings comprise forward and rearward fittings, each of said upper rack fittings having formed therein a T-shaped channel sized and shaped to slidably receive a corresponding of said lower rack fittings. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means for locking said upper and lower racks against relative axial movement when said racks are in mated configuration. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a lower rack fitting including a reciprocably mounted detent disposed on a surface of said fitting receivable within the T-shaped channel formed in the corresponding upper rack fitting, and a corresponding upper rack fitting having an aperture formed therein to receive said detent when said upper and lower racks are properly mated. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further including means biasing said detent toward a position wherein it can be received within said aperture. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said upper rack includes an abutment axially rearwardly from said rearward fitting carried thereby, and wherein said rearward fitting carried by said lower rack includes a shoulder engaging said abutment when said lower rack is mated to said upper rack, wherein said abutment receives the force of recoil resulting from the firing of the grenade launching device to relieve stress that would otherwise be imposed upon said fittings.